2006 Turin Winter Olympics Blog

I’m quoted about this blog on the front page of today’s Washington Post in an article about “Blog Buzz”. I think it’s a decent article. It’s kind of funny to be referred to as a “sports fanatic”, and my family laughed long and hard about that, as I’m very far from fanatical about sports. I enjoyed this blogging experience, but it wasn’t because I’m an Olympics fanatic.

My only other beef was the continuing Olympic bashing. I hate to be included as a part of the portrayal that no one was interested in this year’s Olympics, but at least I’m not quoted as saying anything along those lines. Anyway, the article is available on the Washington Post’s site today or in print.

After winning a few more speedskating titles at the World Cup, Chad Hedrick announced that after the meet in Calgary towards the end of the month, he will take 6 months off to concentrate on pursuing his acting career. At least he’s going to take some lessons. If I were in his situation, and I had an interest in acting, this would probably be an avenue I would pursue. After all, you can’t skate forever. So, what are you going to do next?

To keep up with Chad Hedrick and other Olympic stars in the “off season”, check out our positive sports blog.

Well, as those of you who have been around for a while may remember, I watched American Idol, instead of the Olympics. Now I’m blogging about American Idol. So, head on over to read updates, commentary, and any interesting tidbits I come across.

Maybe Sasha Cohen and Chad Hedrick can make a movie together. Remember that movie “The Cutting Edge” about a hockey player and a figure skater who pair up for the Olympics? Maybe Sasha and Chad could do a remake? Except this time it would be a speed skater and a figure skater.

Sasha served as a special correspondent for “Inside Edition” at the Academy Awards and the after parties. At one of the parties Ben Stiller approached her about a cameo role in an upcoming film. So, maybe my dream of a Hedrick/Cohen film isn’t so far off.

Shaun White met the Olympian he most wanted to meet— Sasha Cohen— at a victory party for him last week. They hung out again at a post-Oscar party. But they’re just friends, so no one get any funny ideas.

An Olympic snowboarder from Sweden was killed in a freak snowboarding accident today in the Adirondacks. Jonatan Johansson advanced to the quarterfinals in the snowboard cross in Turin and finished 12th, overall, at the Olympics.

If you just can’t ever get enough of figure skating, you’ll have a chance to tune into ESPN March 20-26 to see the World Figure Skating Championships. There will be several familiar faces from the Olympics, including medal winners Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, along with Sasha Cohen.

Shaun White and Hannah Teter are two of the Olympians competing at this weekend’s 24th U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships in Vermont. It is the longest running snowboarding championship. Shaun White may have Olympic gold, but he’s never won at this competition, so he’s really talked this up.

I just posted a new article about Hannah Teter over on Positive Sports News. Head over there to check out how Hannah is giving back to the community.

Russians are disappointed that their golden boy, Evgeny Plushenko, is leaving amateur skating at the tender age of 23. They had hoped he would continue to compete through at least the 2012 Vancouver Olympics. Plushenko was very upfront about why he is going pro, saying, “I’m tired of skating for the benefit of the state… I have a family to support.”

I don’t know why I didn’t think of this earlier, but I just didn’t. I should have covered the 2006 Turin Paralympics after the Olympics. I’m sure many of you would have been interested. To make up for my negligence, here’s a bit of a recap.

The Russian Federation won the overall medal count with 33. Germany, Ukraine and France finished second, third and fourth. America finished fifth with 15 medals, including 7 golds. The U.S. paralympic alpine team contributed eight medals.
Notable medals include:

American Stephani Victor won gold in the Downhill slalom sitting. Stephani is relatively new to Paralympics. After a double amputation in 1995, she became aware of the Paralympics in 1999 and made it her goal to participate in the 2002 Paralympic Games. She has been featured on many national television programs, including 20/20, The View, ESPN and more.

Kevin Bramble won gold in the downhill sitting. Kevin was paralyzed from the waist down at the age of 21 in a snowboarding accident. In Turin, he was defending the gold he won at the Salt Lake City Paralympics in 2002.

Steven Cook brought home several medals, two gold and one bronze, in cross country skiing. Steven has been competing in the Paralympics since 1998. He lost his right leg below the knee in a 1988 farm accident.

Here’s to all the athletes, from America and the rest of the world who participated in the 2006 Paralympic Games.

You can catch up with what your favorite Olympic skaters, including Sasha Cohen, are doing by reading my recent post on the World Figure Skating Championships.

Who was your favorite U.S. medal winner of the Turin Olympics?
Chad Hedrick: 5% (27)
Shaun White: 25% (139)
Sasha Cohen: 16% (93)
Apolo Ohno: 20% (110)
Ted Ligety: 2% (9)
Shani Davis: 4% (24)
Joey Cheek: 7% (41)
Toby Dawson: 1% (5)
Hannah Teter: 2% (14)
Seth Wescott: 2% (11)
Rosey Fletcher: 1% (3)
Gretchen Bleiler: 1% (3)
Julia Mancuso: 1% (4)
Lindsey Jacobellis: 4% (23)
Danny Kass: 2% (10)
other: 9% (48)
Total Votes : 564

16 year old Kimmie Meissner may have finished 6th at the Olympics, but she did considerably better than that at Worlds, outskating Fumie Suguri and Sasha Cohen to win the gold and $45,000. Meissner was the only skater in the contest to land two triple-triple jump combos.

Sasha Cohen was considered the favorite but had to settle for a third place finish.

In other skating news, Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto captured gold, and Evan Lysacek captured bronze.

Read more about skaters and other Olympic athletes at our new winter Olympic site.